Vendée Globe

Thirteen single-handed yachtsmen aboard their IMOCA monohulls set sail on Sunday from Plymouth (GB), at the start of the oldest single-handed transatlantic race (The Artemis Transat), which was first raced in 1960 and which was won twice by Eric Tabarly (1964 and 1976) and Loïck Peyron (1992 and 1996). A first racing test for some of the prototypes that were present in Sutton Harbour Marina, while for others, it is the final confrontation before the start of the Vendée Globe.

Mike Golding signalled the start

Absent because his Ecover II was not fully ready, it was Mike Golding, on board HMS Argyll, who sent them on their way at 14h00 (local time). Sébastien Josse (BT), the best placed windward, was the first across the start line, but it was in fact in the middle that conditions were more favourable. Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) made his way slowly out of a tightly packed group including Marc Guillemot (Safran), Yann Eliès (Generali), Vincent Riou (PRB) and Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas). Only Steve White (Spirit of Weymouth), who qualified at the last moment and Samantha Davies (Roxy) were left a bit behind. As for Armel Le Cléac´h (Brit Air), he preferred to change tack to move away from this muddle and head for a quieter area where the wind was less disturbed.
With just under ten miles to race to reach the first mark of the Eddystone Lighthouse, it was Loïck Peyron, who taking advantage of the wind coming around to the west , grabbed the lead a hundred metres or so ahead of Marc Guillemot, followed by Armel Le Cléac´h and Sébastien Josse.

Almost 3000 miles to go to Boston (USA)

With the ice gate put in place by the race directors, because of the many icebergs to the south east of Newfoundland, The Artemis Transat now becomes a 2982-mile race, if you take the direct route (Great Circle route). This distance can be split into three sections, defined by the longitudes they cross, with The Lizard, the Fastnet Rock and Cape Race.

13 competitors at the start

In spite of a certain number of entrants having to stand down, 13 contenders lined up for the start of The Artemis Transat, most of which were French. They will be taking part in the Vendée Globe 2008-2009.
There were the following:
- Akena Veranda/ Arnaud Boissieres (FRA)
- Aviva/ Dee Caffari (GBR)
- Brit Air/ Armel Le Cleac´h (FRA)
- BT/ Sébastien Josse(FRA)
- Cervin EnR/ Yannick Bestaven (FRA)
- Foncia/ Michel Desjoyeaux (FRA)
- Generali/ Yann Elies (FRA)
- Gitana Eighty/ Loick Peyron (FRA)
- Pakea Bizkaia 2009/ Unai Basurko (Spain)
- PRB/ Vincent Riou (FRA)
- Roxy/ Samantha Davies (GBR)
- Safran/ Marc Guillemot (FRA)
- Spirit of Weymouth/Steve White (GBR)

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